Transcript Northwest Atlantic Coastal Indicators Workshop

Northwest Atlantic Coastal
Indicators Workshop
January 6-8, 2004
Durham, NH
SPONSORS
Background Information
• Development of a regional monitoring program for
the northeast Atlantic region (Atlantic Ocean from
New York to Maine and the Bay of Fundy, Canada)
began in 2002 with development of a framework for
coordinated monitoring.
• The regional monitoring framework was developed
with support from the Oceans Coastal and Protection
Division of EPA and in collaboration with the states
and Canadian provinces in the region.
• The effort was expanded in January 2003 through a
workshop to identify indicators in six important
regional focus areas.
Background Information
• Regional Effort to Coordinate Monitoring\ Indicators
– Vision: A sustainable Northwest Atlantic ecosystem that
ensures environmental integrity and that supports and is
supported by economically viable, healthy human
communities.
– Mission: To track the status and trends in ecosystem
integrity throughout the Northwest Atlantic region through
collaborative partnerships. To provide information for
management decisions at regional and local scales.
• The goal of the 2003 Indicators Workshop was to
develop consensus on key indicators though for
which regional data would be compiled and tracked
to demonstrate trends in ecosystem integrity
throughout the Northwest Atlantic region.
Background Information
• Indicator Workshop focused on indicators
applicable to the northeast coastal region
under six focus areas
• Fisheries
• Contaminants
• Eutrophication
• Coastal Development
• Aquatic Habitat
• Climate Change
Why a regional effort?
• Regional councils are gaining visibility and
importance because of:
– Consistency in informing decision-makers and
public on progress in coastal protection and
restoration
– Making sure we are monitoring the right things
– Address gaps between monitoring and
management by reaching out to managers to
ensure our work is relevant
– Working on constituency and meeting
management needs
Information Identified
During Breakouts
• For each of the six focus areas
– Conceptual Models
– Key questions
– Indicators, spatial and temporal scales, and
users of the data
were discussed and modified as needed
during the breakout sessions
Fisheries Top Questions
What is the health of the fisheries with regard
to ecosystem integrity, including targeted
and non-targeted species, habitat, and
fisheries activities?
1) What are the trends in characteristics and the status of
exploited fisheries species?
2) What are the effects of fishing on non-targeted species
and their associated communities?
3) What are the effects of fishing and non-fishing
activities on marine habitat and fisheries productivity?
4) What are the trends in the socioeconomic
characteristics of fisheries?
Fisheries Indicators
What are the trends in and the status of
exploited fisheries stocks?
• Indicator(s):
– Proportion of stocks at or above targeted
abundance or biomass
– Age/Size structure of species from surveys
and/or landings
– Spatial distribution of fisheries species
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Range of species
or stocks; Annual to every 3-5 years
Fisheries Indicators
What are the effects of fishing on nontargeted species and their associated
communities?
• Indicator(s):
– Characteristics of bycatch and discards
– Population levels for selected species
– Species Diversity
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Regional based
on populations or stock, biogeographic
boundaries; Seasonal
Fisheries Indicators
What are the effects of fishing and non-fishing
activities on marine habitat and fisheries
productivity?
• Indicator(s):
– Area closed to fishing, both pelagic and/or
benthic
– Benthic diversity
– Spatial distribution of bottom fishing
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Region wide
(based on biogeographic boundaries); 1 to 5 years
depending on habitat to annually to continuous
Fisheries Indicators
What are the trends in the socioeconomic
characteristics of fishing?
• Indicator(s):
– Days at sea
– Fleet composition
– Commercial and recreational fishing economic
value
– Angler satisfaction
– Overcapitalized fleets
– Natural capital value
– Market value for consumers
Contaminants Top Questions
1) How are contaminants in the region
changing?
2) How is the input of contaminants
changing over time and space?
3) Are management actions changing the
extent and severity of human health
effects?
4) How well are contaminant management
actions protecting ecosystem integrity?
Contaminants Indicators
How are contaminants in the region
changing?
• Indicator(s):
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Area of sediments that have contaminant
levels above sediment quality guidelines
Level of contaminants in representative nonmigratory organisms
Area of shellfish bed closure by state by year
Days of beach closure due to bacterial
contamination by state by year
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Specific water
body scales; Event to Annual to Decadal
Contaminants Indicators
How is the input of contaminants changing over time
and space?
• Indicator(s):
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Annual chemical load to water bodies by state
Number of bacterial source investigations and
sources eliminated by year by state
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Water bodies
Region wide; Annual to source specific
Contaminants Indicators
Are management actions changing the extent
and severity of human health effects?
• Indicator(s):
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Incidences of human disease caused by
consumption of fish and shellfish and recreational
contact
Level of contaminants in representative
fish/shellfish and at-risk humans
Annual number of beach and shellfish closures
(reopenings)
Spatial and Temporal Scales: Water bodies Region
wide; Annual to source specific
Contaminants Indicators
How well are contaminant management actions
protecting ecosystem integrity?
• Indicator(s):
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Sediment quality measure by triad approach
Incidence of disease
Reproductive success
Quality of habitats as affected by contaminants
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Water bodies
region wide; Annual to decadal scales
Eutrophication Top Questions
1) What is the extent, severity, and trends of
eutrophication impacts?
2) What are the sources of nutrients, can they be
controlled, how are they changing?
3) What is the state of management measures and
how can they be optimized?
4) What are the appropriate indicators,
thresholds, and scales?
5) What are the most important data gaps and
research/monitoring needs? How can they be
translated to regional/national strategy?
Eutrophication Indicators
What is the extent, severity, and trends of
eutrophication impacts?
• Indicator(s):
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Dissolved oxygen
Chlorophyll a
Submerged aquatic vegetation
Water clarity
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Estuary-wide;
Seasonal to annual
Eutrophication Indicators
What are the sources of nutrients, can they be
controlled, how are they changing?
• Indicator(s):
– Measured and modeled loads
– Land use/cover (load proxy)
– Population (load proxy)
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Regional;
Seasonal to annual to decadal
Eutrophication Indicators
What is the state of management measures
and how can they be optimized?
• Indicator(s):
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Dissolved oxygen
Chlorophyll a
Submerged aquatic vegetation
Water clarity
Measured and modeled loads
Land use/cover (load proxy)
Population (load proxy)
Aquatic Habitat Top Questions
Coastal Habitat = watersheds+ estuaries+
near and offshore
– How is the extent, distribution, or use
of coastal habitats changing over time?
– How is the ecological condition of
coastal habitats changing over time?
– What are the causes of coastal habitat
change over time?
Aquatic Habitat Indicators
How is the extent, distribution, or use
of coastal habitats changing over
time?
Indicator(s):
– Extent per habitat type over time
• Large scale mapping, small scale ground
surveys
– Distribution per habitat type
– Inventory of human use
• Area, percent of public vs. private
• Area, percent designated for permanent
habitat protection
Aquatic Habitat Indicators
How is the ecological condition of coastal
habitats changing over time?
• Indicator(s):
– Community Structure
• Measure of change of relative
abundance of species within habitat
– Trophic Structure
– Species of Concern
Aquatic Habitat Indicators
What are the causes of coastal habitat change
over time?
• Indicator(s) of most important potential causes of
habitat loss and degradation (physical and
hydrologic alteration, nutrient loading, resource
extraction, contaminants, climate change, sediment
input)
– Extent and percent habitat area altered by tidal
restrictions
– Boat registrations
– Seagrass Nutrient Pollution Index
– Indicators relating to other causes assumed
Coastal Development
Top Questions
1)
What is the type, pattern, and rate of
land use change?
2) How are these changes impacting the
integrity of coastal ecosystems?
3) How is the region responding to
changes in coastal ecosystems?
Coastal Development Indicators
What is the type, pattern, and rate of land use
change?
• Indicator(s):
– Percent change in land cover to more
intensive uses
– Demographic changes (population, etc.)
– Types of land uses and change
Coastal Development Indicators
How are these changes impacting the
integrity of coastal ecosystems?
• Indicator(s):
– Integrity of coastal ecosystems for:
• Threatened and endangered coastal
species
• Migratory species
• Invasive species
Coastal Development Indicators
How is the region responding to changes in
coastal ecosystems?
• Indicator(s):
– Land conservation
– Habitat Restoration
– Land Management (planning, regulatory,
etc)
Climate Change Top Questions
1) What are the causes?
2) What are the impacts of climate
changes to: weather, atmospheric &
ocean circulation, ecosystems, and
society. How vulnerable are we?
3) What are the societal responses?
Climate Change Indicators
What are the impacts of climate changes to:
weather, atmospheric & ocean circulation,
ecosystems, and society.
• Indicator(s):
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Precipitation trends
Storm frequency and intensity
Water temperature surface bottom
Relative sea level rise
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Regional; Annual
to Decadal
Climate Change Indicators
What are the impacts of climate change on
biotic ecosystems?
• Indicator(s):
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Warm vs. cold water finfish species diversity
Planktonic diversity
Wetlands extent, distribution and composition
Marine diseases indices (i.e., MSX, dermo, shell
disease)
• Spatial and Temporal Scales: Regional; Annual
Year-One Deliverables
• Produce a region-wide monitoring and
indicators strategy
– Principles
• Priority management issue and question driven
• Partner relations intensive
• Phased implementation schedule
• Resource sensitive
• Demonstration oriented
Indicators Pilot Project
• Initiate demonstration pilot
– Define goals, audiences, uses
– Content
• Region-wide (1 theme) or sub-regional (multiple themes &
indicators)
– Apply indicators
• Education, communication, outreach methods & materials
“a process of producing and communicating policy relevant
information on key interactions between people and the
natural environment”
Critical Linkages
• Management & regulator community
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involvement to frame need & buy in
Monitoring & observing community to provide
data & create synthetic products
Scientific community to guide expanded
monitoring and identify research needs
People/Programs with lessons to share
Next Steps
“create solid foundation for sustained effort”
• Form committee; set terms of • Spring 2004
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reference, goals & work plan;
secure seed funds & hire
staff; and commence work on
region-wide monitoring and
indicators strategy
Disseminate concept & solicit
comments
Produce strategy & seek
seed-funds
• Summer & Fall
• Winter
2004/05